John Watson was born in Houston, Texas. His father John Sr. was a
pianist, and taught his son the instrument. But young Watson was
immediately attracted to the sound of the guitar, in particular the
electric guitar as played by T-Bone Walker and Clarence "Gatemouth"
Brown.
A musical prodigy, Watson played with Texas bluesmen Albert Collins
and Johnny Copeland. His parents separated in 1950, when he was 15.
His mother moved to Los Angeles, and took Watson with her.

In his new city, Watson won several local talent shows. This led to
his employment, while still a teenager, with jump blues-style bands
such as Chuck Higgins's Mellotones and Amos Milburn. He worked as a
vocalist, pianist, and guitarist. He quickly made a name for himself
in the African-American juke joints of the West Coast, where he
first recorded for Federal Records in 1952. He was billed as Young
John Watson until 1954. That year, he saw the Joan Crawford film
Johnny Guitar, and a new stage name was born.

Watson affected a swaggering, yet humorous personality, indulging a
taste for flashy clothes and wild showmanship on stage. Watson's
ferocious "Space Guitar" single of 1954 pioneered guitar feedback
and reverb. Watson would later influence a subsequent generation of
guitarists. His song "Gangster of Love" was first released on Keen
Records in 1957. It did not appear in the charts at the time, but
was later re-recorded and became a hit in 1978, becoming Watson's
"most famous song".

He toured and recorded with his friend Larry Williams, as well as
Little Richard, Don and Dewey, The Olympics, Johnny Otis and, in the
mid-1970s with David Axelrod. He also played with Sam Cooke, Herb
Alpert and George Duke. But as the popularity of blues declined and
the era of soul music dawned in the 1960s, Watson transformed
himself from southern blues singer with pompadour into urban soul
singer in a pimp hat. His new style was emphatic – the gold teeth,
broad-brimmed hats, flashy suits, fashionable outsized sunglasses
and ostentatious jewelry made him one of the most colorful figures
in the West Coast funk scene.

He modified his music accordingly. His albums "Ain't That a Bitch"
and "Real Mutha For Ya" were two in a prodigious string of
seven albums of Watson's "gangster blues" and Funk.

The shooting death of his friend Larry Williams in 1980 and other
personal setbacks led to Watson briefly withdrawing from the
spotlight in the 1980s. "I got caught up with the wrong people doing
the wrong things", he was quoted as saying by The New York Times.

In 1984 his only LP of the decade, "Strike On Computers", was
released but largely ignored and found Watson retreating further
into the use of electronic instrumentation. The release of his album
"Bow Wow" in 1994 was Watson's bona fide comeback. The album
received a Grammy Award nomination and produced the minor hit
singles "Hook Me Up" (#48 R&B) and "Bow Wow" (#89 R&B)

Watson died of a heart attack on May 17, 1996, collapsing on stage
while on tour in Yokohama, Japan

Cuttin' In 3:03
Embraceable You 2:35
Broke And Lonely 2:50
What You Do To Me 2:23
Gangster Of Love 2:50
Highway 60 2:23
Those Lonely, Lonely Feelings 2:45
Posin' 2:40
That's The Chance You've Got To Take 3:10
I Just Wants Me Some Love 2:40
Sweet Lovin' Mama 2:47
You Can't Take It With You 2:37

"The Blues Soul Of Johnny Guitar Watson" (Chess 1964)

1 Witch Craft
2 I Cried for You
3 I'll Remember April
4 Polka Dots and Moonbeams
5 Exactly Like You
6 When Did You Leave Heaven
7 Reconsider Baby
8 Misty

1 If I Had the Power
2 You've Got a Hard Head
3 Lovin' You
4 It's All About You
5 You're the Sweetest Thing I've Ever Had
6 I Get a Feeling
7 Like I'm Not Your Man
8 You Bring Love
9 You Stole My Heart

"I Don't Want To Be Alone, Stranger" (Fantasy 1975)

1 I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger
2 Your New Love Is a Player
3 Tripping
4 Lonely Man's Prayer
5 You Make My Heart Want to Sing
6 It's Way Too Late
7 Love Is Sweet Misery
8 You Can Stay But the Noise Must Go
9 Strong Vibrations

1. I Need It
2. I Want To Ta-Ta You Baby
3. Superman Lover
4. Ain't That A Bitch
5. Since I Met You Baby
6. We're No Exception
7. Won't You Forgive Me Baby

****In
1976 JGW dropped "Ain't That A
Bitch" and Johnny G was back on the charts. The cryptonite-resistant
funker "Superman Lover" cracked the R & B Top 20 while the bluesy
calypso-swingin' "I Need It" maanaged a #40 placing. Equally good
was the title cut. On this 2005 remaster the hilarious "Funkula"
and jazz fusion "Follow Me" are added for good measure.

Watson continued in slick urban
blues/funk vein on the smash follow up "A Real
Mother For Ya". The title track rivals "Gangster Of Love" as
Johnny's signature song. It's a low-down, phat synth jam with a
monster hook that catapulted the LP to #20 on the Pop Charts (#3 R &
B). Meanwhile the single was a Top 5 R & B hit. The driving "Lover
Jones" hit #34 but "Tarzan" was the other unforgettable number. "I
got a woman so fine/She makes we wanna swing from a grapevine" sings
Johnny with his tongue deep in his cheek. The manic blues shuffle "Kathaline"
and uptown jazz "De John's Delight" are the bonuses.

Ever prodigious and patriotic to
the funk, JGW dropped his second LP in 1977 with "Funk
Beyond The Call Of Duty". Though it wasn't on par with the
previous two, it did contain "It's About The Dollar Bill" and the
title track (the intro sounds like Mancini on acid). Added good 'uns
are "Can You Handle It" and "Virginia's Pretty Funky". These three
albums are some of the best soul music of a disco-polluted decade.
Looking forward to the next set.

"Giant" (DJM 1978)

1. Miss Frisco (Queen of the Disco)
2. Tu Jours Amour
3. Gangster of Love
4. Guitar Disco
5. Wrapped in Black Mink
6. You Can Stay But the Noise Must Go
7. Baby Face (She Said Do Do Do Do)

"What The Hell is This?" (DJM 1979)

1. What The Hell Is This?
2. In The World
3. Proud Of You
4. Cop & Blow
5. I Don't Want To Be President
6. Mother In Law
7. Strung Out

***1/2

In 1979 following the middling LP "Giant" the
funky guitar genius dropped another collection of Sci-Fi R & B mixed
with jazz fusion. Only the title track dented the charts (#83 R & B)
but the disc contains the equally good "Cop & Blow", "Strung Out" &
"I Don't Want To Be President". the latter contains the lyrics "Now
suppose I had a girlfriend and called her/And she lives across the
lake/See congress would know the whole conversation and have it on
tape/Then they'd put me on the television and expose my life/I don't
mind the people knowing but what about my wife?". (Too bad Bill
Clinton didn't have the same trepidations about being the prez.). As
far as the bonus tracks there's two fine instrumental funk/jazz
fusion pieces ("The Funk If I Know" & "Watsonian
Institute").

****Even better is "Love Jones" with the wah-wah guitar, spacey
keyboards, horns, handclaps, etc all in full effect. Hits included
the title cut (#28 R & B) and "Telephone Bill" (#45 R & B), where
Johnny was rappin' before it was even cool. This edition adds "Funky
Blues" & "Untitled Mix".

Methinks Watson was smokin' too much herb
when he cut "JGW & The Family Clone". This time the wacky
experimentation gets mixed with an impenetrable concept and
unmelodic songs. "Come On Dance With Me" sports those vocodor vocals
Herbie Hancock made famous and it's fun albeit too damn long.
"Voodoo That You Do" is also a winner but much of the album is an
acquired taste for sure. "Family Clone" is great but not fun to
listen to twice and "Rio Dreamin'" seems out of place on this
record. Watson fares better on "Forget The Joneses", plays some
inspired guitar on "Ain't Movin'" and nails the bonus cut "Please
Send Me Someone To Love"

"Greatest Hits" (Fantasy 1981)

1 Tripping
2 Why Don't You Treat Me Like I'm Your Man
3 You Can Stay But the Noise Must Go
4 You Make My Heart Want to Sing
5 You Stole My Heart
6 You're the Sweetest Thing I've Ever Had
7 I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger
8 If I Had the Power
9 It's Way Too Late
10 Lovin' You

"The Very Best Of" (MCA 1981)

1 Gangster Of Love
2 Booty Ooty
3 Ain't That A Bitch
4 Love Jones
5 What The Hell Is This
6 It's About The Dollar Bill
7 Ain't Movin'
8 I Need It
9 A Real Mother For Ya
10 Strung Out

"That's What Time It Is" (MCA 1982)

Do The Guitar 3:50
The Planet Funk 5:05
You Sexy Thing (A Wonderful Creation) 3:50
That's What Time It Is 3:48
Flip It 0:38
Go For It 3:34
At The Wishing Well 3:59
First Timothy Six 3:44
I Miss Your Kiss 5:06

1. Johnny G. Is Back
2. Bow Wow
3. Never To Late
4. My Funk
5. It Takes 2
6. Time Change
7. Doing Wrong Woman
8. What's Up With You
9. Hook Me Up
10. I Don't Think So

"Lone Ranger" (Fantasy 1995)

1. If I Had the Power
2. You've Got a Hard Head
3. Lovin' You
4. It's All About You
5. You're the Sweetest I Ever Had
6. I Get a Feeling
7. Why Don't You Treat Me Like I'm Your Man
8. You Bring Love
9. You Stole My Heart
10. I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger
11. Your New Love Is a Player
12. Tripping
13. Lonely Man's Prayer
14. You Make My Heart Want to Sing
15. It's Way Too Late
16. Love Is Sweet Misery
17. You Can Stay But the Noise Must Go
18. Strong Vibrations

Disc 1
1. Ain't That A Bitch
2. Superman Lover
3. I Need It
4. A Real Mother For Ya
5. I Want To Ta-Ta You Baby
6. Baby's In Love With The Radio (Previously Unreleased)
7. Tarzan
8. Funk Beyond The Call Of Duty
9. It's About The Dollar Bill
10. Love That Will Not Die
11. I'm Gonna Get You Baby
12. ET (Previously Unreleased)
13. Miss Frisco (Queen Of The Disco)
14. You Can Stay But The Noise Must Go
15. Feel The Spirit Of My Guitar (Previously Unreleased)
16. Gangster Of Love
Disc 2
1. Don't Be What UC (Previously Unreleased)
2. What The Hell Is This?
3. I Don't Want To Be President
4. Strung Out
5. Cop & Blow
6. Booty Ooty
7. Lone Ranger
8. Telephone Bill
9. Love Jones
10. Before I Let You Go (Previously Unreleased)
11. Voodoo What You Do
12. Come And Dance WIth Me
13. Ain't Nobody's Business (Previously Unreleased)
14. Bow Wow
15. Johnny G. Is Back

***** Finally
somebody got it right- to release the best, spaced-out funky-ass
rhythm & blues jams from this wildcat often called a "genius" by his
peers. The red carpet was rolled out for this lush 2 CD 31 song set
(6 previously unreleased!) digitally remastered with a 28 page
booklet and a plethora of photos spanning the years 1976-1994. The
music matters most but the packaging must be praised. The foldout
digi-pack even contains pics of both the front and back of each of
the albums covered here. Before becoming a pimpin' funkster Watson
was a manic, Texas blues stringer known for his rapid-fire guitar
fingers and the classic "Gangster Of Love" (way before Steve Miller
copped the phrase). He reinvented himself in the 70s and this set
focuses on this fruitful period. All the big hits and key album
tracks are here: "Superman Lover" (R & B #19), "Aint That A Bitch",
the unstoppable "A Real Mother For Ya" (#5 R & B #41 Pop), "Tarzan",
"Funk Beyond The Call Of Duty", "It's About The Dollar Bill", the
updated "Gangster Of Love" (#32 R & B), "Booty Ooty", "Lone Ranger",
"Love Jones" (#28 R & B), his comeback hit "Bow Wow" & more. Most
interesting perhaps are the "new" cuts. When asked by biographer
David Ritz about stuff in the vault Watson was quoted as saying:
"There's gold in them there hills!". He may be right. "Baby's In
Love With The Radio" is a loose funk jam with Watson's laidback
vocal delivery- recorded in 1976. On "ET" Johnny says his baby is
just like that alien freak! I doubt he means in looks cuz she's a
"supernatural" chick. "Feel The Spirit Of My Guitar" is Johnny's
mutation of the Peter Frampton track. My favorite is "Don't Be What
UC", which has a groove similar to George Clinton's "Atomic Dog"
(and especially Snoop Dogg's "What's My Name?"). Here Johnnys tells
y'all to stop trying to emulate folks and be yourself. There's also
a track unreleased from the "Love Jones" sessions ("Before I Let You
Go") and one recorded but unissued from 1994 ("Ain't Nodbody's
Business"). But it's just icing on an already triple chocolate cake.
The cover sticker says "You don't know *@#& until you've heard this
funk!". Damn straight.

A previously unreleased live disc from the genius of spacey Bluesfunk. Recorded in 1990 in front of an extremely receptive audience while on the comeback trail, Watson is at his best on 8 superb performances.

"The Best Of The Funk Years" (Shout! Factory 2006)

1. I Need It
2. Ain't That a Bitch
3. Superman Lover
4. Funk Beyond the Call of Duty
5. I Want to Ta-Ta You Baby
6. What the Hell Is This?
7. Real Mother for Ya, A
8. Love Jones
9. Miss Frisco (Queen of the Disco)
10. Telephone Bill
11. Gangster of Love

"The Original Gangster Of Love: The Keen Records Sessions" (VSOP 2006)

"In Loving Memory The Very Best Of The Okeh Years" (Collectables
2006)

1. Real Mother For Ya, A
2. Tarzan
3. Lover Jones
4. Superman Lover
5. Ain't That a Bitch
6. Funk Beyond the Call of Duty
7. It's About the Dollar Bill
8. Gangster of Love
9. I Need It
10. Love That Will Not Die
11. Love Jones
12. Telephone Bill
13. Lone Ranger
14. What the Hell Is This?
15. I Don't Want to Be President
16. I Want to Ta-Ta You Baby

"Untouchable: The Classic 1959-1966 Recordings" (Ace 2007)

1. Bear A.K.A. The Preacher and the
Bear, The
2. One More Kiss
3. Untouchable
4. Eagle Is Back, The
5. Looking Back
6. Johnny Guitar
7. Posin'
8. Embraceable You
9. Broke and Lonely
10. I Just Wants Me Some Love
11. Cold, Cold Heart
12. Nearness of You, The
13. Sweet Lovin' Mama
14. Cuttin' In
15. What You Do to Me
16. That's the Chance You've Got to Take
17. Gangster of Love
18. You Better Love Me
19. In the Evenin'
20. I Say I Love You
21. Those Lonely, Lonely Nights
22. Baby Don't Leave
23. Ain't Gonna Move
24. Wait a Minute, Baby
25. Oh So Fine
26. Big Bad Wolf
27. You Can Stay (But the Noise Must Go)